Linksys 802.11b or 802.11g for iPAQ 5450?

[ttling]

Linksys 802.11b - BEFW11S4 for CAD99.99 (at Futureshop)
Linksys 802.11g - WRT54G for CAD149.99 (at Futureshop)

Both prices are VERY tempting, especially the WRT54G! However, my questions:

1) I've heard the 'slight' incompatibilities for the iPAQ5450 with the WRT54G (somehow, not as user friendly as the BEFW11S4 when connecting to B)? Is this still true?

2) If I purchase either one of the wireless routers in North America? Would I be able to use it in Asia (power supply terms)? I know that North America uses 110V and Asia uses 220V. Would changing the AC adapter work for the routers? Or is the power supply for the wireless routers internally built in?

3) Is this the 'golden' opportunity to buy one of the routers? Given the price drop, should we be expecting new wireless routers coming soon from Linksys?

[DeBary_FL]

I replaced my Linksys BEFW11S4 v.4 with a WRT54G just today. The latter works fine with my WM 2003-upgraded H5450.

Based on my experience I strongly recommend against buying a BEFW11S4, at least the v.4 that I have. I had 3 problems with this WAP/router that have been fixed by going to the a WRT54G. First, downloads would consistently freeze. I had a hard time gettin even a small 3- or 4-MB file to download to my PC. Second, ThunderHawk on my H5450 would lose connection frequently. Finally I had a problem where my H5450 would connect as Guest when I tried to sync wirelessly. I have none of these problems with the WRT54G.

Sorry, I can't help with the other questions.

[imported_thanos]

FYI I have the netgear 54g wireless router and my Ipaq works great. My laptop has the 54g card and works great also. No compatibility problems at all.

Thanks
Thanos

[That_kid]

Go with the WRT54G, once microsoft updates the ppc to use wpa you can turn wpa on in the WRT54G and be good to go. I don't have a WRT54G but I do have the WAP54G which i the same thing less the router and switch and it works great with my 5555, 5455, 3970 and 3760.

[Digitaldoc]

Originally posted by tling


Linksys 802.11b - BEFW11S4 for CAD99.99 (at Futureshop)
Linksys 802.11g - WRT54G for CAD149.99 (at Futureshop)

Both prices are VERY tempting, especially the WRT54G! However, my questions:

1) I've heard the 'slight' incompatibilities for the iPAQ5450 with the WRT54G (somehow, not as user friendly as the BEFW11S4 when connecting to B)? Is this still true?

2) If I purchase either one of the wireless routers in North America? Would I be able to use it in Asia (power supply terms)? I know that North America uses 110V and Asia uses 220V. Would changing the AC adapter work for the routers? Or is the power supply for the wireless routers internally built in?

3) Is this the 'golden' opportunity to buy one of the routers? Given the price drop, should we be expecting new wireless routers coming soon from Linksys?

I use both these routers, with the G at work set to mixed B and G. I have my Ipaq and Tabletpc connected. No problems with Ipaq on either one. Of course without a G card the throughput is not increased.

[PennyWisdom]

The power transformer is the block type the hangs on the wall. All you should need to get these routers working in Asia is an AC adapter that converts to the correct DC voltage and fits the socket on the router. Be sure to check the polarity on the router-end of the cord too!

Example: My BEFW11S4 takes 5v and the plug that goes into the router is positive on the inside oin and negative on the outer ring.

[Leehro]

i have had a befw11s4v2 for about a year now. And it's worked perfectly with my two wired PCs, my orinoco gold PCMCIA, my linksys CF wifi, my girlfriends linksys PCMCIA wifi, my old 5455, and i have a few problems with my 5555, but i'm not sure what's causing that...probably the 5555.

i don't know what's changed in the v3 or later ones, but i've had good luck with mine.

and i think the G incompatibilities were fixed with the 5450's newest WLAN firmware, but i don't have any G equipment so i can't verify that.

[DeBary_FL]

Originally posted by Leehro
i have had a befw11s4v2 for about a year now. And it's worked perfectly with my two wired PCs, my orinoco gold PCMCIA, my linksys CF wifi, my girlfriends linksys PCMCIA wifi, my old 5455, and i have a few problems with my 5555, but i'm not sure what's causing that...probably the 5555.

i don't know what's changed in the v3 or later ones, but i've had good luck with mine.

Yes, it seems that it's v.4, which I was "lucky" enough to get, that has the problems. The Linksys forum over at DSL Reports is full of problems with BEFW11S4 v.4. The other versions seem to be ok.

[ttling]

Originally posted by DeBary_FL
Yes, it seems that it's v.4, which I was "lucky" enough to get, that has the problems. The Linksys forum over at DSL Reports is full of problems with BEFW11S4 v.4. The other versions seem to be ok.

My questions again:

1) What's the difference between WRT54G and WAP54G?

2) How do I know if I'll get a BEFW11S4 v.4 or not from the purchase / packaging?

[That_kid]

The wap54g is just an access point, it doesn't have a built in switch, doesn't do nat or any type of firewalling and is usually a good choice IF you already have a router and switch setup. Other than that the wireless part is exactly the same.